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2019 Legislature

When oil and gas companies go unregulated, people die and families are dislocated

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A month ago ProgressNow New Mexico published a blog about SB 186, a bill that would equip the Oil Conservation Division (OCD) with actual enforcement and punitive powers to enforce state regulations on oil and gas operators in the state. In that piece we highlighted how over the last decade the oil and gas industry has caused literally THOUSANDS of infractions but because of a legal loophole, OCD has not been able to fine those companies, leaving those companies with little motivation to adhere to the law. This isn’t just an academic issue. This is a real problem with real consequences for New Mexicans.  Today we want to look at some specific examples of where major failings have happened around the state that affected New Mexicans’ lives and where, if OCD were able to hold these companies accountable, disasters like this could be avoided.

SINE DIE- NM LEG EDITION

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Sine die is upon us. It’s a fancy way of saying the end of the 2019 Legislative Session is almost here. In the last five days of the session, there are still a lot of bills that have not had a hearing in one chamber or in the next committee. Let’s break it down for you:

HB 51- Keep Abortion Safe and Legal

The repeal of a pre- Roe v. Wade law that would criminalize healthcare providers and patients seeking abortions passed Senate Judiciary on Monday and is on the Senate Floor calendar. We must tell the Senate to prioritize healthcare!

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Women’s History Month- NM Edition

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Every week this month, we will highlight a few women across New Mexico who kick ass, take names, and show up for their communities! This week, we want to highlight Congresswoman Debra Haaland and Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-28)! Check out our landing page for Women of New Mexico! Congresswoman Deb Haaland is one of two Native American women ever elected to Congress. She is the daughter of veterans and raised her daughter as a single mother.

2019 Legislature

Abortion Is Healthcare

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Last night, HB 600, the Women’s “Health and Safety” Act, and HB 608, “Allow Refusal to Admit Patients For Abortion”, AKA “Let Doctors DISCRIMINATE Against Patients Seeking Routine Healthcare Procedures”, were both heard in House Consumer and Public Affairs. There was so much misinformation, vitriol, and microaggressive behavior, we don’t really know where to begin. For starters, I, Rachael Lorenzo, testified against HB 608 about my experience being denied care. It is despicable that any person must disclose traumatic medical history before the world to speak up against or for bills. My experience with being denied life-saving abortion care in an emergency setting while actively miscarrying at a New Mexico hospital could have left my daughter without a parent.

2019 Legislature

*URGENT* Don’t let education access be limited by age in New Mexico!

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We just sent this email out to all our members. Please follow the links below and contact your legislator NOW! Dear Friend,

Today, a major piece of education legislation is being heard at the Roundhouse. HB 5 and companion bill SB 1, aim to make sweeping changes to the way public education is funding in New Mexico. These bills make significant strides toward improving our public education system particularly after years of our schools being neglected by those in power.

2019 Legislature

URGENT ACTION NEEDED- Permanently Protect Access to Abortion in NM

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Yesterday, Representative Rod Montoya (R) presented HB 600- the “Women’s Health & Safety” Act- in the House Consumer and Public Affairs (HCPAC). Let’s be real- this is a nefarious move to limit access for women and young people when seeking reproductive healthcare. We heard a lot of really untrue, dangerous, and frankly, violent, rhetoric that we won’t justify here. What we will do is share the testimony of real, New Mexico families building trust and communication together and from providers who trust their patients to be active participants in their own care. Check out these tweets and Instagram stories of coverage from folks who respect New Mexico families’ private health decisions.

2019 Legislature

One step closer to real energy independence​ in New Mexico

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SB 489, the Energy Transition Act cleared its first hurdle this past Saturday as it passed out of the Senate Conservation Committee 5-3. ProgressNow New Mexico joins our robust coalition of statewide partners in thanking the committee for making this a priority for the state NOW and for the future of New Mexico. However, almost immediately after the bill passed from the committee, detractors of the bill continued to blanket media space with renewed attacks about this important legislation.  New Energy Economy sent out another misleading email about this landmark bill. NEE stated, “SB 489 does NOT close the plant.

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*TAKE ACTION* We need to talk…

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Today ProgressNow New Mexico sent out an email to our members with some hard truths. The Economic Transition Act is an incredible tool for our state and for the communities most affected by the inevitable end of fossil fuel production in our state. We, along with dozens of other partners, are fully encouraging everyone to get behind this effort keep moving New Mexico’s energy future forward. You can CLICK HERE to send an email to your legislator in support of SB 489, the Economic Transition Act. Subject: We need to talk…TextWith a new Governor, enthusiastic new State House representatives, and progressive advocates with eight years of pent-up demand, what could possibly go wrong?Well, a lot, actually, and that’s why we need to talk.We’ll be blunt.

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Respect NM Women Coalition Lobbies the Roundhouse

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On February 14, 2019, Respect New Mexico Women, a coalition of organizations that work to protect abortion access from across the state, lobbied legislators in the House and Senate at the Roundhouse. We must say, it was beautiful to see true representation of our state show up to tell our elected leaders that we support access to abortion and that healthcare is not a crime! Folks from every corner of the state including Indigenous folks from various tribes and Asian families were in full force to let our elected officials know that we appreciate votes FOR HB 51- a bill to keep abortion safe and legal. It’s literally a page long so read it here. Check out these highlights of the Respect New Mexico Women Lobby Day!

2019 Legislature

5 Reasons New Mexico Must Pass SB 8- Background Checks for Firearms

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On January 30, Senate Bill 8 (Firearm Sale Background Check), sponsored by Senators Wirth and Martinez, passed Senate Judiciary! Some time very soon, SB 8 will be heard on the Senate Floor and we want to dispel some gross mistruths about gun safety measures that are moving through committee in the New Mexico State Legislature. Here are 5 reasons that we need background checks for firearms:

When Connecticut implemented this law, their gun homicide rate went down by 40%Women shot to death by intimate partners went down by 47%In many states, 1 out of 10 people seeking guns have backgrounds that wouldn’t allow them to have guns in the first placeBackground checks have blocked more than 3 million salesQuinnipiac University polling found that 97% of Americans across the aisle support background checks

This is not some radical bill. This is common sense and it saves lives. The proposed legislation will require online sellers to do what retailers have had to do for decades: a background check.

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When oil and gas companies go unregulated, people die and families are dislocated

By |

A month ago ProgressNow New Mexico published a blog about SB 186, a bill that would equip the Oil Conservation Division (OCD) with actual enforcement and punitive powers to enforce state regulations on oil and gas operators in the state. In that piece we highlighted how over the last decade the oil and gas industry has caused literally THOUSANDS of infractions but because of a legal loophole, OCD has not been able to fine those companies, leaving those companies with little motivation to adhere to the law.